Convertible vehicle-rack



W.' J. HEMPY.

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE RACK. APPLICATION FILED' 1AN.9,1919.

SHEET l.

' INVENTOR.

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W.'J. HEIVIPY.

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE RACK.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 9, I9I9.

1,351,475, 1%I1IIeI1Aug.y 31, 1920. y

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N WITNESS: \O IQ YII 'Oo O3 h INVENTOR: N A WZur .fHe/npy BVM5@ w ATTORNEY.

f To Aall whom t may' concern."

UNITED ST M133.i

FermiT ,OFFICE WILBURA J. HEivi'rY,Y or* orriivvii,"kansas.l

coNvER'rIBLE vEHicLn-RACK.

Be it known that I, VVILBUR J. HEMPY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ottawa', in the county'of Franklin andV State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Vehicle-Racks,vof which the following'is a specification. A

My invention relatesv to improvements in convertible racks, for usel on vehicles, such as automobile trucks, farm wagons, etc.,

and one object is to provide a rack whichA may be converted into an open frame work for the transportation of live stock andotlier commodities, and converted into a tight box'in conjunction'with the vehicle body for the transportation of grainV and other products requiring a tight inclosure to preventJ leakage.

Another object is to provide rack which may be readily placed `in position-upon a vehicle body or removed therefrom.

Other objects will hereinafter appear and in order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view ofthe rack mounted on a vehicle body and adjusted to open position for the transportation of live stock, etc.

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical longitudinal section of the rear portion of the vehicle body and of the rack, which latter is adjusted to closed position for the transportation of grain, etc.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the rack adjusted for live stock.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of the lrack in closed position andmounted upon the vehicle body. s

Referring now in detail 'to the various parts, A designates a vehicle body having the usual tail-gate B provided with sockets C,V which are also placed at the front and sides of the body A. y v

In constructing they rack, I employ 'duplicate sides 2, each consisting of longitudinal slats 4, 5, 6 and'7, spaced apart and Vsecured to upright stakes 9, the lower ends of which are adapted to fit into the socket C at the sides of the vehicle body A.

The stakes 9 are in-'two sections which abut at a point approximately level with the upper surface of the slats 6 and operably-connected by hinges 11, so that the upper sections may be adjusted to the raised Specication of Lett'ers Patent. I Patented A116.. 31; 1920; jllplili'cation led January 9, 11319.- seriali 27q282- f position disclosed by Figs. rl and 3, .or A' folded as disclosed by Figsj2and 4. "The hinges l1 have offsets 14 adapted to extend over the upper edgesof thesla'ts, so wthat the upper sections of the stakes '9 'may vfold snugly againstthefinner*sidesof the slats 6.and 7, a'sdisclosed more clearly` on Fig'.4. j

The bottompeclges vofthe vslats 4 have beveled portions '16' extending their entirel length to lit snugly against the correspond-A ingly beveled edges 18 of'the slats T when the upper sections of the stakes 9 are folded to the position vdisclosed 'by F ig.4. Thek upper and lowerk edges of the slats 5 have.' beveled`- portions 20and 22 to fit against'thel correspondingly beveled poi-tions 24and 26 i of the slat'sf?` and 6, respectively.

The end-gates 28 ofithe rack are duplicate'sv and of similar construction to the sides 2. Each end-gate 28 consists of slats the upper edges of the slats 34 and operably connected by hinges 40 similar `to, the

hinges ll, so that the upper sections may be swung Yupwardly, or folded snugly against the inner surfaces of the slats 34 vso and 36. The l'slats 30 are provided at their lower edges with beveled portions 42 to fit against the correspondingly beveled under portions 44 of the slats 36, while the slats 32 have uppery and lower beveled edges 46 and 48 to it against the correspondingly,

beveled upper and lower edges 50 and 52- of the slats 36 and 34, respectively.

When the rack is adjusted to open posif tion as disclosed by Figs. l and 3, the upv per sections of the stakes 38 are held in upright position by the slats 30 and 32, which iit between pairs of short cleats 54 and 56 secured to the inner surfaces` of the slats'4.

and 5, respectively. Thel slats 6 are pro vided at their innersurfaceswith-pairs of short cleats 58 spaced apart to receive the ends of the slats 34 and thus coperate with.

the cleats 54 and 56 andthe stakes 38 and their respective sockets C in holding the end-gates 28 in position between the sides 2.

The sides 2 of the rack are prevented from spreading apart by tie-rods 60 extending transversely through the slats'4 and 5 and i one of each pair of long cleats 62 uniting the simple and substantial rack which iswell fold under the slats 7 and 6, respectively.

Each pair of cleats 62 is spaced apart to receive the adjacent ends of the end-gate slats 34 and 36 when the rack is closed for carrying grain, etc.

The small cleats 54 and 56 are short enough to pass through the spaces under the slats 7 and 6, respectively, when the rack is closed.

`The tail-gate Bhas notches 66 adjacent the open sides of its sockets C, so that it can be removed without disturbing the adjacent end-gate 28. l This is a very convenient feature as it provides for an opening through which grain can be removed from the body A, without iirst removing said adjacent endgate 28, which operation would be difficult owing to the pressure of the grain against the end-gate. Y

From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that I have provided a adapted for the purposes intended, and by beveling the edges of the slats as described lap joints are provided which prevent leakage of the smallest grains, and while I'have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I reservethe right to make such changes in the construction, combinaan end-gate disposed' at one end of said oppositely-disposed sides andV consisting of stakes sections may fold downwardly, slats secured to said stakes and spaced apart to form an open end-gate when the stakes are extended and a grain tight end-gate when said stakes are folded, in combination with a vehicle body having a tail-gate with notches in its upper portion registering with the stakes so that it can be opened and closed without disturbing the endgate, and 4sockets on said tailgate to receive the lower ends of the stakes, said sockets having open sides regis tering with the notches in the tail-gate. Y In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILBUR J. HEMPY. Witnesses:

F. G. FISCHER, j L. J. FISCHER.`

40 having upper and lowerV sections, hinges connecting said sections so that the upperv 

